Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-04-02
CITY-HALL HISTORY.
FRAGMENTS cyrUR AZ 10 TIE
HIw BuIIDrna.
Few the ola City Hall was Torn Down
and the Hsw One was Con-
usnesd.


old City Hall, and in the course OF the
year 1t was condemned As soon as
the present temporary buildings were
erected for the use of the city officers
the old hall was vacated and shortly
thereafter was pulled down, and the lot
levelled even with the surrounding
streets.
In November, 1877, papers and reso-
lutions concerning the erection OF a
new City Hall were referred to the
Committee on Grounds and Buildings,
who reported them back in December
| of the same year, and action on the
subject was indefinitely postponed.
In December, 1873, and in August,
| 1880, resolutions looking to the erec-
ton of new City Hall were introduced
in the Board OF Aldermen, and in
March, 1881, similar resolutions were
| offered in the Common Council. There
was no definite action on these resolu-
tons. ArS ~ IIt gIt..f i}1
THE FInsr SUCCESSFUL STEP.
In April. 1882, the Mayor approved
the following joint resolution. of
which Mr.. Rzzini, of the Common
Council, was the patron: euss - B.
Rcsolrcd 6y the Common Council
(ihe Board OF Aldermen concurring),
That at the next municipal election. TO
be held on the = day of May, poll be
opened TO take the sense of the quail
fed voters Of this city upon the ques-
ton whether the City Council shall APP
propriate the necessary amount, not ex-
ceeding s300,000, to provide suitable
City Hall to accommodate all the Off
GERS and courts Of the city.
On June 8, 1882, the result of the elec-
ton was reported to the Council, sfol-
lows:
Whole number of votes cast, 2, 1888 ;
in favor of the appropriation, 1924.
On March 10, 1887, an ordinance was
adopted by both branches authorizing
the Committee on Grounds and Build
ings to proceed With the work.
On May IA, 1888, resolution adopted
by both branches Of the City Council
was approved by the Mayor establish
ing the old City-Hall lot, with the addi-
ton OF the Tupper lot adjoining CO..
feet of ground), as the site for the new
City Hall, and authorizing the Com
mittee on Grounds and Buildings to
acquire said Upper property.
On July l3, 1888, the City Engineer
was authorized by the Committee on
Grounds and Buildings to advertise for
designs for new City Hall.
On November 2, 3, 8, and 8, 1888.
the Committee on Grounds and Build
ings were engaged in examining de-
signs for the new building which had
been received (twenty-four in numberl
and hearing explanations from the
architects.
January 8, 1884, the Mayor approved
a resolution Of the Council selecting the
plan of T.. E. Myers, of Detroit, Mich.
as first choice, and that of Yost * Muir
| doch, of Columbus, o., as second.
SITE.
The Upper house, between the old
City-Hall lot and the church, having
been previously purchased by the
| Council committee, on February 26.
| 1884, the following ordinance, adopted
by the City Council, was approved by
the Mayor, providing for the further
extension Of the site for the new City
Hall: ..
Whereas It Is desirable to acquire the LOT oc-
| cupicd by the First Presbyterian church for the
use Of the new City Hall, and In order TO acquire
the same II IL necessary to purchase another
| lot and reproduce the church building thereon,
| and 10 provide place OF worship Tor the con-
| gregaiion mean while, making necessary an
| additional appropriation for building the new
| City Hall: now, therefore
BE Il ordained bg the Council Of the CITY o.
| Riehmonf uhe Common Council concurringl,
J That the sum OF forty thousand dollars, or 80
I much thereof as may be necessary, De ana the
same Is hereby appropriated for the above
mentioned purpose; and 70 provide the saiu
sum the Auditor is hereby instructed TO issue,
| on the order OF Committee on Finance. 5 per
cent bonds OF the city, having thirty-fonr years
| 10 run from the ist day Of January, 1884, said
bonds TO express on their face that they are re-
deemablo at the option OF the Council al any
| time after the expiration OF ten years from the
| said lst January. 1884. and 70 be disposed OF by
| the Committee on Finance at such time and In
such manner and on such terms as they may
deem best for the interest OF the city, the face
value OF said bonds TO be placed to the credit
OF new City Hall"; and the Auditor Is In
strucsed TO pay warrants drawn by the chairman
Of the Committee on Grounds and Buildings,
certified by the City Engineer, when the title
to any land acquired for the above purposes
shall have been approved by the City Attorney.
This ordinance was carried into effect,
and under it the church was taken
down and re-erected at the northeast
corner of Grace and Madison streets.
NEW DESIGNS.
II having been found impossible to
get any responsible contractor who
would agree to construct the new build
ing according to the Myers plan for the
sum appropriated for its construction
1890, ,000), the Council, by Joint reso-
luton approved by the Mayor Febru-
ary II, 1885, authorized the ComTittee
on Grounds and Buildings to advertise
for new designs.
New designs having been received by
the committee, they were examined by
an advisory board appointed by tte
committee-as follows: f. t. ID. Ny
ers. A. l.. Riyes, and W. L. Cutshaw,
City Engineer-whor recommended that
the design OF Wait & Cutter, of Bo ton,
Mass, be selected as first choice, and
that of B. J. Black, OF Richmond, Va,
as second choice, which recommends
ton was approved by resolution of the
City Council approved by the Mayor
JULY, 1886.
This resolution also authorized the
Committee on Grounds and Buildings
to advertise for bids in accordance with
the plans of Wait Il Cutter.
On June IA, 1886, the Committee on
Grounds and Buildings reported to the
Board of Aldermen that they had re-
ceiyed a bid through Messrs. Wait x
Cutter for the construction of the new
City Hall, in accordance with their
plans, for the sum OF 1860, 600, and
| that later on, in response to an adver-
tisement for competitive bids, only one
bid was received, and, it being IN
| formal, was not considered. The report
also contains the reason assigned by
Wait & Cutter for the lack of interest
on the part of bidders, and sugges-
ton from them wait 4 CUTTER that
further prosecution OF the matter be
delayed for rtwelve months. The report
was received and ordered to be filed
CHANGE OF ADMINISTRATION.
The "delay and dilly-dallying" OF
the Council with reference to the new
hall was much talked Of prior to the
municipal election in May, 1886, and
ii was a weapon largely used against